Bluegrass lawn might be feeling the heat

Q: I have a not-so-big patch of bluegrass lawn. It’s still big enough to use a mower and planted close to the back patio. All of a sudden, it looks burnt. My neighbor called it fried. I feel confident that it’s getting adequate water, but still looks horrible. What am I doing wrong? — N.G., Albuquerque

A: Since you feel that you are watering the turf adequately, my next concern is how are you mowing it?

Bluegrass is classified as a cool season turf, so it doesn’t grow like gangbusters when it’s truly hot, especially like it’s been. My question to you would be, are you letting the grass blades grow a bit longer during the heat between mowings or are you faithfully mowing weekly, perhaps every 10 days, like clockwork?

When you are mowing these days, I’d ask if you’ve raised the mower deck to keep the blades of grass longer? Think of it this way ... NO CREW CUTS. Your aim this time of year is to allow the grass blades, which aren’t growing at a furiously rapid rate anyway, the ability to stay a tad lengthened, thereby helping to shade the ground. That will assist the grass helping to keep ground level cooler, making for a happier bluegrass turf area.

You say it looks burnt. Is the grass dead in the burnt spots? If so, you either need to reseed those areas or cut in pieces of sod to fit the damaged spots. The hard part with either choice will be the heat, especially if it continues. You might consider waiting to see if the spots come back with your continued watering or just be ready when the temperatures moderate to do a project fix.

When you water, is the whole area getting adequate water? If watered with a sprinkler system, are they pointed where they need to water? Just please for the time being make sure to raise the mower’s deck so the grass blades are kept at least 3-inches long and make sure you are watering effectively and efficiently.

Lots to check on I know, but by raising the mower deck during the heat of the year, I’m confident the turf will aim to rebound.

Q: My sister-in-law has the niftiest sunflower plant I’ve ever seen. Instead of one or two giant blooms, the plant has lots of blooms everywhere. It’s so pretty and I’m curious if you might know what plant I’m looking for so I can get some seed to grow my own. — S.C., Los Lunas

A: If it’s the plant I think you are admiring, I’ve always known it as New Mexico sunflower. The botanical name is Helianthus maximiliani.

You are right that they are a truly colorful plant when they are in bloom and you should be able to harvest seeds from the spent blooms and plant them year after year. Unless the birds get to the seeds first.

This plant is pretty tough and easy to grow and if you time it right, you could even harvest some of your sister-in-law’s seed heads so you can grow the next generation.

Now you know and Happy Diggin’ In!

Tracey Fitzgibbon is a certified nurseryman. Send garden-related questions to Digging In, Albuquerque Journal, 7777 Jefferson NE, Albuquerque, N.M. 87109, or to features@abqjournal.com.